"These results have confirmed that the trends that we have already identified are underway with increasing lettings and footfall," said Chris Grigg, chief executive of British Land. "Retail parks that are anchored by a click and collect site for fashion operators are doing very well, on the edge of out of town. The shopper's habits are getting more complicated so we're focussed on adding more food and beverage outlets - they tend to be good rent payers and it increases dwell time."

Office Space

Letting office space in the tech, media and telecoms (TMT) sector and insurance industry is proving fruitful for British Land with London's Cheesegrater skyscraper (pictured below) now 54pc let with the latest candidate to sign up understood to be insurer Rothesay, taking the 25th floor.

The emergernce of TMT as a London office segment over the last few years is buoying British Land's performance, and international companies coming to the Capital such as Facebook to Regents Place. Typically "financial services is sinking" so internationalisation, TMT emergence and a burgeoning insurance industry is stimulating the office market, Mr Griggs explained.

There is a shift of companies into central London, driven by corporate belief that location attracts global talent. While relocating to Leeds or Manchester can benefit a business because of cheaper rentals, wages are also lower so London isn't under threat from the regions and their enterprise hubs springing up across the country, Mr Griggs said.

"Planning must be addressed and the decision made of how dense we're prepared for London to go," he said.

Commenting on macro prudential tools being used by the Bank of England to curb the runaway housing market he said: "We can't just say 'dampen the market'. London is predicted to grow by one million people over the next few years. The system has to create houses flats and apartments and address supply side, then price becomes secondary.

"No one wants to see higher buildings in the core West End, but the boroughs, say the south of the river, have to see more height, and that's ok."